2008/3/24, Paul Braun <cygnus@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> Actually, OS/2 was co-developed between IBM and Microsoft. IBM wanted
> to develop something better than Windows, but Microsoft was scared of
> losing the licensing agreement with IBM. So, Gates and Ballmer agreed
> to "help" IBM "develop" OS/2. Ballmer referred to it as "Riding the Bear".
ΜS Windows at the time wasn't an OS, only a graphical user shell. MS'
plan was to have it running over MS DOS, be it the real or protected
mode versions — and the latter became OS/2, but running Presentation
Manager instead.
MS really needed a DOS successor. At first that was Xenix, but when
they saw the opportunity to avoid open systems by allying with IBM on
protected mode DOS, OS/2 was born — not yet with that name.
> As a result, early versions of OS/2 were severely crippled --
> Microsoft's guys saw to it that it wasn't a serious contender to
> Windows. It didn't really shine until IBM took over development and cut
> the ties to Microsoft.
Never presume ill faith when incompetence is explanation enough —
Napoléon Bonaparte.
The best explanation I found is that MS thought it was the best course
until it saw it didn't need IBM. So Gates isn't necessarily a liar,
at least when speaking about OS/2.
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